KPD identifies rig passenger killed in I-40 car-truck collision

KNOXVILLE — A passenger in a tractor-trailer truck was fatally injured this morning when the truck jackknifed on Interstate 40 after it collided with a Honda Civic, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

The victim was identified as Aaron W. Wilkerson, 45, of Lebanon, Tenn. He was in the truck's sleeping compartment at the time of the accident. The 2012 Freightliner truck is owned by Performance Food Group.

One lane of I-40 eastbound was closed for several hours after the 12:30 a.m. accident.

The truck and Honda Civic were both eastbound on I-40 between I-640 and Asheville Highway when the Civic began to hydroplane and struck the left front side of the semi, according to KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

The truck, driven by Kyle Whitlow, 24, of Westmoreland, Tenn., went out of control and overturned on the driver's side.